Date: 9/6/2011

Title: Beltway Beef Audio News

Here we are a day after Labor Day – the day we celebrate economic and social contributions of workers – and just two days before President Obama unveils his jobs plan to the nation. What will he say? I am betting he will also call for an increase in exports and tout trade as a way to stimulate the economy and create jobs. I can’t disagree with that one bit given that for every $1 billion in exports, 8,000 jobs are generated. It’s a no-brainer that trade in and of itself is a stimulus package for this country that doesn’t drain taxpayer dollars.

The thing we have to wait and see is whether or not the president does more finger pointing on the reason these free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea have gone virtually nowhere since he took office. Will he take these job-generating agreements off the shelf, shake the dust off and send them to Congress this week? Or will we simply get more of the same?

Growing up, I used to watch Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. Every single time you think Wile has a chance to finally catch that bird, he ends up face first off the side of a cliff and usually burned. That is exactly how U.S. agriculture feels in regards to these trade agreements. Every time we get close, the rug is pulled out from underneath us and we end up burned. I am tired of ACME TNT, steep cliffs and unexpected jet powered roller skates.

We need some serious actions to generate nearly $2.5 billion in additional exports and roughly 20,000 jobs. The president needs to help take US farmers and ranchers out of a competitive disadvantage and level the playing field. NCBA and all of agriculture is ready for some leadership. No more “Roadrunner” tactics.